We have arrangement to secure 2bn doses of COVID-19 vaccine, says health minister

By our reporter| Health minister, Osagie Ehanire on Thursday said Nigeria will benefit from a proposed allocation of two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine meant for poorer countries.

Ehanire who made the disclosure at the the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja, said the country is working with WHO to finalise enrollment with the access to COVID-19 tools (ACT) accelerator, a global mechanism tracking and sponsoring research organisations working on COVID-19 vaccine development

The race for vaccines is in full force following the infection of more than 22 million persons worldwide with the highly contagious virus, and developing countries, including Nigeria are maling efforts to secure doses of the vaccine when it is finally approved.

Ehanire said, “Nigeria is also working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to finalise enrollment with the access to COVID-19 tools (ACT) accelerator, a global mechanism tracking and sponsoring research organisations working on COVID-19 vaccine development.”

“We are also interested in the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, a Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) supported global initiative, to procure and assure equitable access to vaccines, as soon as they are available, especially for lower and lower-middle income countries (LMIC).

“This will prioritise Nigeria for allocation of a part of two billion vaccine doses that will be secured, in a special plan to protect the interests of poorer countries.”

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), more than 50,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).